2015 Mercedes ML350 and 2016 Toyota Highlander Are Now Middle-Class SUVs for Nigerians

• The 2015 Mercedes 350 ML and 2016 Toyota Highlander are the top in-demand used cars by middle-class Nigerians.
• Despite being very old SUVs, middle-class Nigerians are seeking these SUVs out for significant reasons we will be discussing in this article.

The 2015 Mercedes 350 ML and 2016 Toyota Highlander have become quite popular among middle-class Nigerians, who are looking for an SUV that comes with a mixture of affordability, comfortability, performance, and luxury. 

Over time, these two SUVs have remained in high demand across used car dealerships in Nigeria, with buyers constantly seeking any one of them. It doesn’t matter that the ML350 for instance has since been discontinued by Mercedes, or that the 2016 Highlander has over 8 years under its belt now.

But, what could be the reason behind the surge in the purchase of these SUVs by middle-class Nigerians? We will be finding out more about that in this article. Keep reading to know why the 2015 ML350 and 2016 Highlander now have a cult-like following amongst middle-class Nigerians.

Overview of the 2015 Mercedes ML350

The 2015 M-Class is a decent two-row luxury mid-size SUV with a posh interior and a comfortable ride. There is also a nice engine lineup, ranging from a fuel-efficient diesel engine to a heart-stopping V6. Inside, the M-Class is attractive, features user-friendly tech, and provides a lot of space for people and gear alike.

The M-Class additionally offers two levels of blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure protection. The first level comes via the Lane Tracking package, which monitors road conditions and alerts the driver by vibrating the wheel or emitting a sound. The second level is found in the Driver Assistance package, which adds active versions of these systems that can selectively apply the brakes if the driver fails to heed the warnings of the car.

The 2015 Mercedes-Benz ML350 is the last model for the ML350 trim which was replaced by the GLS-Class.

Overview of the 2016 Toyota Highlander

This mid-size crossover SUV is not only tall, but it also stands tall among any other mid-size SUV in its category. It is one of the best-selling SUVs in the Nigerian auto market. Based on the platform of the Toyota Camry (now called the Toyota K platform), the Highlander became one of the first mid-size SUVs to be based on the platform of a car when it was manufactured in 2000.

Since it was manufactured, it has gone through three complete generations of production and is currently in its fourth generation of production. From the first model to be produced down to the latest of the models, the Toyota Highlander has been characterized by power, ruggedness,  and versatility.

The 2016 Toyota Highlander belongs to the vehicle’s third generation which started in 2014 and ended in 2018. The handling of the third generation was an upgrade from the previous generation. It was very responsive and agile. And as usual, the interior space is roomy.

The 2016 Toyota Highlander, which represents the third year of the model’s current generation, remains a top contender among family-friendly crossover SUVs. It’s a great SUV for buyers who dislike minivans or those who don’t need a V8-powered vehicle.  This three-row Highlander is a great catch, offering front- or all-wheel-drive, a choice of four-cylinder or V6 engines, and five distinct trim levels, each with a successively longer list of features.

The base Highlander LE comes standard with front-wheel drive and a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 185 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The only transmission is a six-speed automatic. Fuel economy is an EPA-estimated 22 mpg combined (20 mpg city/25 mpg highway), which is barely better than the ratings for the stronger V6 engine.

That 3.5-litre V6 is optional on the LE and standard on all other trims. It’s rated at 270 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. The transmission is again a six-speed automatic and either front- or all-wheel drive is available (Limited Platinum comes with standard AWD). The front-wheel-drive V6 configuration achieves an EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined (19 mpg city/25 mpg highway), while the AWD V6 drops a tick to 20 mpg combined (18 mpg city/24 mpg highway).

The 2016 Toyota Highlander is a three-row midsize crossover offered in LE, LE Plus, XLE, Limited, and Limited Platinum trim levels. Eight-passenger seating is standard on the LE, LE Plus, and XLE, while seven-passenger seating (featuring second-row captain’s chairs instead of a three-person bench) is optional on the XLE and standard on the Limited and Limited Platinum.

The 2016 Toyota Highlander comes standard with traction and stability control, antilock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags, a driver knee airbag, a front passenger seat-cushion airbag, and full-length side curtain airbags. A rearview camera is also standard.

The Limited trim gets a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert, and its optional Driver Technology package (standard on Limited Platinum) adds a frontal collision warning and mitigation system (with automatic braking), lane-departure warning, and Toyota’s Safety Connect telematics (emergency assistance, stolen-vehicle location, and automatic collision notification). Unfortunately, these items are unavailable on base 2016 Highlander trims.

Why Middle-Class Nigerians Love the 2015 Mercedes 350 ML and the 2016 Toyota Highlander

Have you ever wondered why middle-class Nigerians love the 2015 350 ML and the 2016 Toyota Highlander? We’ve highlighted the reasons below:

1. Comfortable

When it comes to comfortability, the 2015 350 ML also scores great points. The 2015 M-Class is a decent two-row luxury mid-size SUV with a posh interior and a comfortable ride. The 2016 Toyota Highlander on the other hand is a three-row midsize crossover offered in LE, LE Plus, XLE, Limited, and Limited Platinum trim levels. 

The vehicle comes with an eight-passenger seating capacity in the LE, LE Plus, and XLE trims, while seven-passenger seating (featuring second-row captain’s chairs instead of a three-person bench) is optional on the XLE and standard on the Limited and Limited Platinum. The 2016 Toyota Highlander is not only roomy but also provides driver and passenger with maximum comfort while driving.

2. Remarkable fuel efficiency

Another fundamental reason middle-class Nigerians are trooping towards these two SUVs is due to their remarkable fuel efficiency, which is not common for an SUV of their age. The 2016 Highlander offers a combined 20 mpg fuel efficiency, which is also the same as the 2015 350 ML.

3. Powerful V6 Engines and Agile Transmission

Middle-class Nigerians love these two SUVs because they use a V6 engine that is powerful and almost on the same radar as a V8 engine. All 2015 Mercedes-Benz M-Class models come standard with a seven-speed automatic. 4Matic all-wheel drive is standard on all but the ML350, where it is an option that replaces rear-wheel drive. It features a 3.5-litre V6 engine that produces 302 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The 2016 Highlander features a 3.5L V6 six-speed automatic transmission with an overall fuel efficiency of 20 mpg. 

For instance, experts note that during its performance testing, the ML350 with AWD accelerated from 0 mph to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds, which is average for this segment. The estimated fuel economy is 20 mpg combined with 18 mpg city run and 24 mpg highway run with the rear-drive and 19 mpg combined with 17 city run and 22 highway run with the all-wheel drive.

4. They Are a Mixture of Affordability, Comfort, Performance and Luxury

Very rarely will you find an SUV that could offer you all four and even more! In most vehicles, you get affordability and comfort but they lack performance and luxury. But, that’s not the case for these two 8-9-year-old SUVs. Middle-class Nigerians love them because they offer owners a lot for a reasonable price. For instance, with N13 million and above, you can get your hands on a neatly used 350 ML or the 2016 Highlander and enjoy features that can only be found in the latest model vehicles.

2015 Mercedes 350 ML350 and 2016 Toyota Highlander price in Nigeria

According to the listing on https://carmart.ng, a 2016 Toyota Highlander Limited is priced at ₦19,000,000, while a 2015 Mercedes 350 ML350 has a starting price of ₦17,000,000.00. The ML 350 is more expensive to maintain as a daily driver because parts are not readily available.